Reservation Rejuvenates Manuvad

Manu, the first socialogist of the World and creator of caste system must be smiling in the heavens that his social divisions have become an effective tool for social, political and economic management of Indian society for all time to come. From the four castes that he had created, we now have about 6000 in modern India. And the people say Islam has castes, not realizing that the Prophet did not believe in dividing the society, or did he?

There are exclusive organizations not only for Brahmins, Kshattriyas and Vaishyas but also for sub-castes like Nishads, Kurmis, Tailik Samaj (oil men), Jats, Gujars, Yadvas, Pasis and you name it. Our politicians are trying to free us from caste-prejudices using the basics of Manuvad.

In the ancient India one’s caste was license to certain privileges, in modern times the governments talk of ‘positive discrimination’ to give caste-based advantages aimed at removing caste hierarchy and establishing social equality. The so called positive discrimination is no different form the concept of caste as a parameter of entitlement of privileges like priesthood, teaching profession, right to rule, or to do business.

Dr. Ambedkar had given a time limit of 10 years for reservation to correct the social anomaly that ended in 1960. However, the greedy politicians in free India thought that people can be herded on the basis of caste. They decided that the caste be the parameter of selection on a post, of election to Parliament and legislative assemblies even village panchayat, representation in the ministry, allocations in the Central and State budgets, admission in schools and colleges, permit, quota and license. They wishfully thought and still think that the castes would vanish and a secular, democratic, secular caste-less society would emerge in this process.

More than 50% government employees owe their positions to caste. Many members of parliament and assemblies even ministers and Chief Ministers are there by virtue of their caste. The goal of caste-less society, if at all it was there, has become no more than a pipe-dream.

In spite of the above, the governments of the day avoid caste based census. They might be thinking we would have to utter, read and write the ‘jaati suchak shabd’ (caste indicator words) but they fail to make distinction between the caste indicator word and the stigma attached to it? It is naïve to think that replacing the caste indicator words would bring respect to Dalits. It is often forgotten that the words mean what we make them to mean. The word scheduled caste over the years has come to carry the same meaning as the ‘Harijan’ of Mahatma Gandhi. Has exchange of words brought about any change in the mental attitude of people.

If you do not believe, go to a village and tell a Brahmin or Thakur and reveal your identity as scheduled caste and ask for a glass of water f. Watch the glass he brings water in. Should we look for a substitute of the phrase scheduled caste? Social equality and respect are linked to social contribution you make. Legendary personalities like Valmiki, Kabir, Ravidas, Tukaram, Ambedkar, Karpuri Thakur, Jagjeevan Ram, Vallabh Bhai Patel and thousands like them did not beg for respect.

Political leaders are heroes either of their caste or caste combinations. They feel ONLY THEY can be the saviors of their caste. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh did not take kindly of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to scheduled caste families. Yadavas have been made to believe that only Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh yadava can save them. Other caste groups are also herding behing their caste leaders. With this scenario, the caste barriers are sharpening, the social harmony is disturbed and chasing the dream of caste-less society would be endless. I hope our leaders know what they are doing.

(originally published in H.T.)

It is pleasure to feed the needy

My young friend Karan Dalal from Mumbai has sponsored mid-day meal to pre-primary kids in our school. You can see the feeling of satisfaction on his face in serving the kids.

I spoke against Cooperative Farming

I was in Lucknow University in B.Sc. in the year 1958 when some department in the university had organized a debate competition on cooperative farming. I had been a popular speaker in Government Jubilee Inter College of Lucknow where my debating companion used to be Ravi Shanker who recently retired as the Director General of the Geological Survey of India. Two of us used to win shields but this was a new platform for me. Just a week before I had undergone an operation for a boil in my chin that was in the process of healing. My face with bandage was looking funny but I had decided to speak, and speak against the topic. When my turn came and my name was announced, I stood up to move to the podium; the student gathering in the A.P.Sen Hall had a big laugh, apparently due to bandage. Without looking left or right I went straight to the podium and glimpsed at the crowd. Then without going into formality of addressing the chairman or the judges, I thundered a village saying “Sajhe ki kheti gadahau na khain, khati khati khain to koi hanke na jai’ (shared crop will not be eaten even by donkeys and in case they do eat, no one will go to chase them away). My voice was so loud and clear, the same crowd applauded instantly. I continued and got applause several times during the speech.

Recently when Lucknow University felicitated me for my contribution to science and society, the function presided by Prof. R. P. Singh, the Vice Chancellor was held in the lawn facing A.P.Sen hall. Seated with the distinguished alumni of the university on the dais, I remembered the incident and smiled.

Origin of Earth: The Indian view

Most religions believe that the earth was created by a Creator. However, the philosophers and peers of Indian subcontinent, who wrote Vedas and Upanishads, pose a searching question that who created the Creator? Does the Creator know what existed before him? What material he used to create the earth and universe and so on. These queries were made not by atheists or agnostics but by the devout Hindus of the subcontinent. They were allowed and encouraged to raise such questions because as Romaine Rolland in his book “Life of Ramakrishna” states:

“Religious faith in the case of Hindus has never been allowed to run counter to scientific laws”

Indeed, the origin of earth and life occupied a great deal of time of inquisitive minds. Ancient civilizations without any sophisticated equipment came out with results at times very close to scientific reality. In Hindu tradition, universe is supposed to precede humanity, other life forms and even gods. The people of ancient India suggested that this ‘being’ perceived as ‘Brahma’ gradually unfolded its inherent creative power and gave birth to the planet earth. Creation of universe in Vedic literature of Hindus is described from a ‘Cosmic Egg’ of Brahma and hence the term ‘Brahmand’ to define the universe. Ancient Indian religions were all about search for truth and there was no restriction either social or religious on innovative ideas.

Hindu thinks that this world and the present universe are not the ultimate reality. They are Maya (illusion) because they are constantly changing. Hindu philosophy insists on cyclisity and concludes that everything that happens today happened many times before. This is similar to the modern concept of Uniformitarianism in earth science. There is concept of utpatti (creation), sanraksha (preservation) and Pralaya (destruction). The concept of ‘Trinity’ in Hindu philosophy implies Creator (Brmha), Preserver (Vishnu) and Destroyer (Shiva). They are one and the same and either of them is not possible without the other.

Creation in Hindu scriptures is termed as ‘Srishti’ which means manifestation of energy as matter, the gross form from the subtle. We can see the gross, which is termed as ‘Maya’ and are not able to see ‘Brahma’ the cosmic force or primal energy which is at the root of existence. Srishti does not mean creation out of nothing, proclaim Upanishads, the holy books of wisdom. Hindu seers believe that creation is impossible from non-existence and universe in their view is projection of Supreme Being. The conclusion of these discussions is that in the beginning there was neither being nor non-being. The sanka prasna (doubt question) in Vrihdaranya Upanishad about 5000 years ago discussed origin of earth and the nature of substance used in creating the planet.

Hindu seers described the sky as ‘Shunya’ (nothing or zero). It is this shunya in which everything including the stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies are arranged in an ordered and related fashion. There is mention of twelve Zodiacal signs in ‘Rigveda’ that predates their mention in Greek literature at least by a thousand years. Rigveda can be said to be the oldest book of astronomy. Thus, the debate about the shape, size, interior and origin of the planet earth together with the life forms (Srishti) present on it have a long and continued history of speculation and hypotheses in India.